This week’s question comes from a man who has questions about a recent breakup with his long-term girlfriend.
She broke up with him (via email) in April and then again after a brief union in the middle of May.
He says he’s had a difficult time dealing with some of the obsessiveness in the relationship, as has she, but that she has been resolute about not wanting to reunite at this point.
He’s been looking at the astrology behind this breakup and notices that it coincided with the recent Pluto retrograde cycle as it moved back and forth over their natal Venuses.
He wonders whether this transit is inclined to make it more difficult to bring resolution or whether there’s still hope for the two of them to reconcile. At the very least he wants to remain friends; he doesn’t want to lose the connection entirely.
This week Safina takes a look at both of their natal charts, along with the transits that were in place at the time of the breakup and the April Full Moon Lunar Eclipse that affected both of them.
Starting with her (we’ll call her Emily), the following is her natal chart with the Eclipse positions along the outer perimeter.
From Safina: Just before the break up there was a Full Moon Lunar Eclipse on 4/4/2015. Eclipses bring endings and new beginnings. This Eclipse aspected her 5th house (romance-the relationship with you, love affairs, creativity, fun, hobbies, risk taking, gambling, and children), and her 11th house (hopes, wishes, mentors, like-minded people, and her social network of friends that she hangs out with).
At that time, her relationship with you and her social network of friends were in opposition with each other. Full Moon Eclipses seem to bring situations to a head. Something was going to fall away because Pluto (the planet of transformation, out with the old and in with the new energy) and Uranus (the great awakener, planet associated with sudden and abrupt change) were also involved here — as part of a t-square with the Sun and Moon.
Let’s see how this Eclipse aspected her personality and what was manifesting in her thoughts on 4/4/2015, at during that time.
The combination of the Sun, Ascendant, and Moon: The Sun describes what you want, the Ascendant describes how you’ll go about getting what you want, and the Moon describes what you need and desire to feel secure.
Transiting Pluto was moving through Emily’s 7th house (exclusive partnerships, marriage and business partnerships) — and very close to her Venus — at the time of the Eclipse.
It was also the focal planet of a t-square with the Sun, Moon and Uranus, affecting her 7th house, her 11th house (hopes, wishes, mentors, like-minded people, and her social network of friends that she hangs out with) and her 5th house (romance-the relationship with you, love affairs, creativity, fun, hobbies, risk taking, gambling, and children).
She was being pulled in several different directions at that time and did not know if she wanted a relationship or her freedom.
Did you know she had Saturn Retrograde is in her natal chart?
People with Saturn Rx in their natal birth charts think differently than people born with Saturn direct in their natal charts. Saturn Rx people experience guilt and self-doubt, and when it turns retrograde by transit, the light switch of fear is activated and internalized because they tend to hide the way they feel.
Saturn Rx people fear letting others down, but also fear letting themselves down, and making poor choices Saturn Rx people feel anxious when they are in a situation that is rigid or inflexible. Saturn Rx people need to escape and do not want to have to explain why!
The Life Cycle Transit = Natal Pluto Square Transiting Pluto (Ages 36-43, Midlife Crisis)…
Emily’s life cycle transit, at the age of 38. Transiting Pluto square natal Pluto: Natal Pluto resides in her natal 4th house (father, or a father figure, roots, past life, family and home) and was being squared by transiting Pluto, which was moving through her 7th house (exclusive relationships, marriage and business partnerships).
The square places a nasty obstacle between her home (how she wanted to live, or who she wants to live with) and her exclusive relationship partner (the relationship with you).
The Day of the Breakup:
Pluto (transformation) square Uranus (rebellion) = Two Wild Card Planets Meet, The Break Up…
Pluto makes you discover who you really are and brings out what was dormant, and makes you do some house cleaning to transform yourself.
Uranus, the planet of unexpected changes, revolution, and the planet of the future, not the past makes her break free from the past.
The square places a nasty obstacle between you and your path, or a situation that is very difficult to overcome. You end up going in the opposite direction of your path, or you cannot agree with something, or you are forced to leave your path.
The square teaches you heartfelt lessons, but also makes you a stronger person because it helps you develop inner strength through your struggles.
Transiting Pluto (transformation) quincunx transiting Jupiter (luck) = Broken Promises…
Transiting Pluto moved through her 7th house (exclusive relationships, marriage and business partnerships) and quincunx transiting Jupiter in her 3rd house (communication, writing, teaching, short travel, siblings, cousins, neighbors, your close environment that is related to the people you hang out with, or the people that you are associated with professionally that you communicate with, or the people that just show up in your life).
This aspect shows the communication message she delivered on the day of the break-up!
The quincunx makes you unable to merge because it feels disturbing. The planets do not understand each other. An adjustment needs to be made to achieve success. You might not be ready to adapt, or put up with something, but you’re forced to find a happy center in order to find resolution regardless of the situation. If you can’t find a happy center, there will be broken promises…
Now looking at your chart along with the transits and the Eclipse’s affect on it. For the sake of this article, we’ll refer to you here as “Mike.” Here are the details of that eclipse as they applied to your chart:
This Eclipse aspected your 6th house (health, daily routines, work environment, co-workers, and pets), and your 12th house (the secret vault, the area that you store hidden secrets, or the hidden things that arise that you do not know about that will blindside you). Because Pluto was also involved (squaring the Sun / Uranus and Moon), the 9th house was also emphasized.
This Eclipse shows that you were going to be blind-sided because it aspected the 12th house, the isolation house that sends you into healing from a traumatic event that was going to take the wind out of your sails. Something was going to fall away from you because of the Pluto square to the Sun and Moon, which was less than 1 degree away. Planets that are within one degree of an Eclipse have a heavy impact on what will happen!
The day of the breakup on 5/12/2015:
Transiting Saturn Rx conjunct your natal Sun. Saturn (fate and destiny, and the lord of karma) conjunct your natal Sun (the Sun describes what you want).
Transiting Saturn Rx (the do-over or a restriction) was in retrograde motion and backpedaling, on the way back to the 7th of exclusive relationships, bringing you into a square with your relationship. Saturn has been moving back and forth between your 8th house (merging, sex, debt, other people’s money (intermingled assets), death, and transformation (new beginnings or endings) and your 7th house (relationships, including relationship conflicts such as breakups, separations and divorces, etc).
The connection between Saturn and a personal planet such as the Sun is important because it provides the cement for a long-lasting relationship. However, Saturn can also cause problems because Saturn is karmic! Saturn also makes a person too critical and judgmental.
Transiting Saturn Rx quincunx transiting Mars. Transiting Saturn Rx (fate and destiny, and the lord of karma) quincunx transiting Mars (action). The quincunx makes you unable to merge because it feels disturbing. The planets do not understand each other. An adjustment needs to be made to achieve success. You might not be ready to adapt, or put up with something, but you’re forced to find a happy center in order to find resolution regardless of the situation. If you can’t find a happy center, there will be broken promises…
Transiting Pluto (transformation) square transiting Uranus (liberation), two wild card planets meet, the breakup…
You had a line-up of transiting planets in your 12th house (the secret vault, the area that you store hidden secrets, or the hidden things that arise that you do not know about), and planet line-ups bring unexpected change especially when Pluto and Uranus meet up with each other, close to the same degree!
The square places a nasty obstacle between you and your path, or of a situation that is very difficult to overcome. You end up going in the opposite direction of your path, or you cannot agree with something, or you are forced to leave your path. The square teaches you heartfelt lessons, but also makes you a stronger person because it helps you develop inner strength through your struggles.
The Life Cycle Transit = Natal Pluto Square Transiting Pluto (Ages 36-43, Midlife Crisis)
Mike’s life cycle transit, at the age of 38. Natal Pluto squares transiting Pluto:
Natal Pluto resides in your 6th house (daily routines, work environment, co-workers, heath and pets) and squares transiting Pluto, moving through your 10th house (career and a high achievement).
The square places a nasty obstacle between your heath and daily routines, and trying to stay focused at work!
The lesson learned during the Pluto life cycle transit
Pluto brings out your dark side and makes you accept it, then Pluto makes you let go. Transiting Pluto squaring natal Pluto makes you transform yourself. Relationships and jobs are lost, and you’re asked to adjust and let go! This will be the time when you’ll experience a time of shedding, and the time to release what is not working, or who wants to leave your life. If someone belongs in your life they will return before the end of the Pluto cycle, but if they do not return, they probably won’t.
Pluto will not let you sit on your laurels, and once the shedding is done, new opportunities arrive, and so does the power of a stronger individual. The transiting Pluto square natal Pluto cycle represents the mid-life crisis, the time when your soul needs a new experience, and adjustments need to be made that are very painful!
Pluto cycles make people obsessive! Emily was born with Saturn Rx in her natal chart, so she does not want to talk to you and answer questions. She feels guilt and does not want to give you false hope. Saturn Rx tends to feel like the planet Uranus, the time to escape and not answer questions!
The timing of this break up was related to the Full Moon Eclipse, and the Natal Pluto square transiting Pluto life cycle transit that both of you were experiencing.
I pulled the Eight of Wands for you. You arrive at the path of communication and travel judgment…
The Eights represent the status of your relationship. The Eight of Wands indicates a sudden release of energy that clears away your current confusion and starts everything in motion concerning relationship judgments.
I named the Eight of Wands, “The Incoming Missiles Card!” Communication will be swift and if you are dealing with something hidden related to love or hidden enemies at work, these enemies will experience incoming communication missiles!
The Minor Arcana represents your choices and actions throughout the realization of your destiny. The Wands represent the spark plugs of the Tarot, the spark of creativity and the birth of an idea. The Wands are oriented toward action, growth and the realization of your dreams.
The message from the Eight of Wands: “A sudden burst of energy will clear away all confusion and starts everything in motion. There will be swift action, and delays or the uncertainty you’re experiencing will be removed.”
Astrologically: The Eight of Wands incorporates the energies of Sagittarius (the dedicated student that needs new experiences, and freedom loving).
The Wand’s astrological relative is Jupiter (the guardian angel planet that brings luck in a mysterious way, helping you achieve something very important to you).
My Interpretation Of The Eight Of Wands Tarot Card
The Eight of Wands represents a sudden release of energy that clears away confusion and starts everything in motion. The power of this card clears out the negativity that has long been lingering in your life. It indicates swift action, so all the delays regarding your relationships will come to a conclusion. Good news is on the way. You will receive a communication message that will be helpful in resolving your ongoing issues, releasing them for good. This communication message is related to relationships (professional and love).
Love: You may get hit with the Cupid love arrows, initiating a new romance, and a possible relationship, or you may experience unexpected issues regarding an existing relationship. If you have begun a new relationship, you might feel as if you have been swept off your feet, and everything is happening at lightning speed. Everything happens so fast that you wonder how these love missiles came out of nowhere to bring love into your life.
If you are in an existing relationship, the love arrows will bring something to a head that needs resolution because this card is the judgment of communication.
Upright Position: You will be victorious over adversaries and hidden enemies (perhaps coworkers). A sudden release of energy clears away confusion and starts everything in motion. Negativity is swiftly dispersed and good news is on the way. You will receive communication that will be helpful in resolving ongoing issues and releasing them for good.
You will experience a fast-paced judgment related to the status of business or personal relationships by phone, email, letter, or you will take a trip to resolve setbacks and delays, or you might move.
Timing is within 8 days, 8 weeks, or related to the summer season.
This card is related to your guardian angel that works in a mysterious way, telling you that a new love interest will be coming in your life!
I feel the relationship is over, and I feel it’s going to be really hard to bring this relationship or friendship back on course! But if she comes back it will be before the Pluto cycle is over.
I am really sorry that you’re going through this, I am here if you want to come live chat and talk. I have experienced this bloody transit too, it’s very painful!
I am available for live chat, phone or Skype sessions. Please feel free to email me to schedule a session if you don’t see me live. I look forward to speaking with you!
You can also read more of my articles here.
- Soul Mate Separation – Here Is My Story… - July 16, 2021
- Spotlight Reader of the Week – Safina - May 12, 2021
- The Timing of a Hidden Prophecy - March 28, 2018
Angie, you are welcome! I only wish I would of studied the life cycles in my 20s, instead of later. Astrology is amazing and I love it! Glad you liked the article and thanks for the comment!
I loved what you had to say about the Saturn retrograde and the life cycle information. I don’t know a lot about astrology but I can see there’s a lot to think about. thank you so much for taking the time to do this!